Sometimes, things have a way of just working themselves out. This past week, I had the fortune to experience several of those moments…wine and/or food were definitely involved.

Last Tuesday, it all started with a leisurely drive to Durham (after spending $500 on new brakes, I wanted to put them to the test!), followed by an awesome wine and food experience. I was lucky enough to get invited to a wine dinner at Nanas, which featured Willamette Valley wines from Sokol Blosser.

Although we didn’t go to that particular winery on our trip to the valley last year, I did visit in 1985, before Pinot Noir and Willamette Valley were synonymous. The dinner last week featured five courses and six wines, including a vertical of Pinot Noirs (2002, ’04 and ’06). From a creamy porcini soup with white truffle oil to olive oil poached duck breast with chanterelles, the chef did a great job of pairing his creations with the wines.

But the real treat happened before the dinner, at the chef’s house, where he let me select a bottle from his personal cellar for pre-dinner cocktails. I pulled a 1999 Switchback Napa Cab out of the fridge (which I later learned was probably a bottle he would have preferred I hadn’t drunk…but I did!). It was probably the best Cab I have ever had…and that is saying something. After the dinner, we played wine roulette, pulling some older bottles out of his cabinet to taste. It took five tries before we found one we could drink!

It started with a 1993 Pinot Noir. I said that was kind of long to age an Oregon Pinot…unless it had some really good tannic structure. And this one, obviously, did not, as it was undrinkable. We then tried a 1980 Inglenook Cab, that was probably NEVER good, then a 1986 Seghesio and a 1988 Unissent. Alas, not a drinker in the lot. Then I noticed an Elizabeth Spencer ’05 Napa Cab, and knew we had found the one. Not quite the Saddleback, but very drinkable.

I had Advil for breakfast, and then made pan seared salmon with lemon butter, roasted broccolini with garlic, and gorgonzola ravioli in a garlic cream sauce. Good road food.

Back to reality, I did the tasting Thursday, and we sold out of every wine we featured except for one (but we only have one bottle left). I will be doing the tasting again this week, and I have talked about a battle of Malbecs, I may actually do it this week…but I am not promising anything, as I want to give myself the option of something else if I feel like it.


We had a great weekend, and the weather mostly held for the festival. More importantly, though, we started our Sunday Jazz Brunch. Our Thursday night guitarist, Dave, provided the atmosphere, Chef Ed manned the omelet station, and I created a couple things that turned out much better than I had expected. A fig prosciutto crostada with mascarpone and a caprese tomato pie with goat cheese…they were so good, the words I might use to describe them could potentially offend some of our readers, so I will simply say, I will be making them again.

OK, I think that’s it for now. You want it, we got it, so come on down to The Treehouse Bistro, and let 2 Wine Guys @ The Grind pour you a glass and fix you a plate!

Shawn